by Kandiss Edwards

May 1, 2026

TSU And Meharry College Offering Full Ride To Young Black Men Interested In Medical Field

The scholarship was established to honor the pioneering legacy of alumnus Dr. Levi Watkins Jr.

The Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund is seeking candidates interested in pursuing medical and dental professions.

The scholarship was established to honor Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr., the TSU alumnus and cardiac surgeon who revolutionized medicine with the first internal defibrillator implantation.

The fund is designed to remove the cost barriers that often discourage underrepresented students from pursuing high-level medical careers. By providing significant financial support, the endowment allows scholars to bypass the traditional eight-year educational route in favor of a streamlined seven-year curriculum without the burden of overwhelming student debt. Currently, the applicant pool is meager, which leaves the opportunity wide open, according to the Mutual Alliance Restoring Community Hope (MARCH) Foundation.

The endowment specifically rewards academic high achievers who meet the rigorous standards of the Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. Institute. Eligible students must be interested in the medical field. Additionally, they must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and an ACT score of 28 or a 1300 on the SAT.

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Scholarship recipients will gain more than just tuition assistance. Funds are utilized to support:

Accelerated Undergraduate Study: Covering the intensive three-year pre-medical phase at TSU.
Professional Transition: Supporting the bridge into the four-year medical or dental programs at Meharry Medical College, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, or the Frist College of Medicine.
Professional Identity: Funding essential milestones such as the White Coat Ceremony and specialized physician shadowing opportunities.

The financial security provided by the fund has allowed scholars to focus entirely on their demanding coursework, resulting in a 61% increase in the Biology Department’s graduation rate at TSU. Furthermore, the inaugural cohort of scholarship recipients produced the university’s top two graduates in 2024, both of whom maintained perfect 4.0 GPAs throughout their accelerated undergraduate tenure.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 1, 2026

Taye Diggs & Partners Launch Vertical Storytelling Platform For Filmmakers

Taye Diggs has teamed up for the launch of a new platform that puts the power of vertical content creation in the hands of creators.

Taye Diggs is investing in the future of filmmaking by partnering to launch Microhouse Films, a vertical video platform that puts distribution directly in filmmakers’ hands.

On April 30, Diggs and partners Autumn Federici, Shelby Stone, James Black, and Troy Brookins announced the platform’s launch, aimed at supporting the next generation of vertical series, Deadline reports. As part of its service offerings, Microhouse Films will enable creators to produce, distribute, and monetize their work within a single platform.

“When we thought about how to meaningfully impact the vertical space, we immediately focused on the creators and storytellers whose livelihoods depend on where this industry is headed,” Diggs said in a statement. “Microhouse Films is about creating a model that supports them in this next phase and allows them to keep telling stories that move us.”

A mobile-first storytelling platform, Microhouse Films will be free to use, with no subscription or hosting fees, while giving creators full control over monetization. Operating without ads, filmmakers can decide which episodes are free and which are behind a token-based pay system, setting their own pricing, release strategy, and revenue model.

The platform will also feature built-in discovery tools, including customizable genre tags, as well as promotional features such as shareable, branded landing pages for each series. It expands on the growth of microdramas in recent years. Also known as “verticals” for their phone-first, portrait format, the recording style gained popularity in China during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since grown in the U.S., with platforms like ReelShort and DramaBox attracting audiences to short, low-budget, serialized content.

“The industry is rapidly changing, and we have an opportunity to redefine who benefits in this new ecosystem that puts control directly in the hands of filmmakers,” partners Federici, Stone, Black, and Brookins said. “We’re excited to introduce a model for vertical storytelling with Microhouse Films that places a premium on both the quality of the work and the storyteller behind the content.”

Alongside the launch of Microhouse Films, Diggs has teamed up with his partners to executive produce the microdrama “Tides of Temptation,” starring Swag Boy Q. The project expands the world of “Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise With You,” which also stars Diggs.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 1, 2026

LinkedIn Accused of Extensive Browser Surveillance Without Users’ Knowledge

LinkedIn is facing backlash after an investigation alleged the site used hidden code to monitor software and tools installed on users’ computers without their knowledge.

An April 4 report titled BrowserGate details findings from an investigation into LinkedIn that raise concerns about data collection, privacy, and corporate intelligence practices on the Microsoft-owned platform. Researchers described it as potentially “one of the largest corporate espionage and data breach scandals in digital history.”

According to a study by Fairlinked e.V., an alleged coalition of commercial users, LinkedIn may be using hidden browser scripts to scan installed extensions and gather detailed device data—potentially without user consent. Researchers say the activity resembles large-scale browser fingerprinting that could expose sensitive personal and corporate information.

The report alleges LinkedIn injects hidden JavaScript into user sessions to scan for installed browser extensions, ranging from productivity tools to enterprise software. Independent testing by BleepingComputer supports parts of the claim, identifying scripts that probe for more than 6,200 extensions, a stark increase from the about 2,000 reported earlier in 2025, suggesting the scope has rapidly expanded. The method works by attempting to access known resources tied to extension IDs; if they load, the extension is assumed to be installed.

LinkedIn is denying the allegations, claiming its practices are aimed at security and platform integrity and not surveillance. In a statement, the company acknowledged it detects certain browser extensions but said this is to identify tools that scrape data or violate its terms of service. LinkedIn also questioned the credibility of the BrowserGate report, claiming it stems from an individual whose account was restricted for policy violations.

“To protect the privacy of our members, their data, and to ensure site stability, we do look for extensions that scrape data without members’ consent or otherwise violate LinkedIn’s Terms of Service,” LinkedIn said in part.

“Unfortunately, this is a case of an individual who lost in the court of law, but is seeking to re-litigate in the court of public opinion without regard for accuracy,” the company added.

However, amid news of the report, LinkedIn is facing criticism on social media, with people urging a boycott of the platform.

“I HIGHLY recommend everyone stop using LinkedIn period,” one X user wrote. “LinkedIn sells your usage data back to the very companies you work for. Full stop, DELETE IT NOW.”

“Definitely wouldn’t recommend browsing LinkedIn right now,” another X user tweeted. “There’s like 30 browser vulnerabilities rolling out fixes too.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 1, 2026

Fugees’ Pras Michél Reports To Prison For Start Of 14-Year Sentence

'Pras honors the legal process as he reports to begin his sentence,' his spokesperson said.

Pras Michel has reportedly turned himself in to begin his prison term after being convicted in 2023 of charges including money laundering, illegal lobbying, and campaign finance violations.

According to Rolling Stone, the convicted rapper reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Safford, Arizona, where he will start his 14-year prison sentence. Pras was originally scheduled to turn himself in on Jan. 27, but asked the judge to remain free on bail while appealing the sentence. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly denied the request, but gave him an additional 60 days to report to prison.

“Today is a painful day for Pras, for his family, and for everyone who believes in a fair system of justice,” his spokesperson, Erica Dumas, said in a written statement. “Pras honors the legal process as he reports to begin his sentence. The FARA-related charges that led to his conviction are being vigorously contested on appeal, and his legal team believes the record will show that his rights were violated and the truth was obscured. This chapter is difficult, but it is not his final one.”

Dumas added that Pras has been spending time with his family over the past two months. He was in Los Angeles last month, watching the Ye concert on April 3, when he hung out in a suite with Dave Chappelle and Eryka Badu and watched his Fugees cohort, Lauryn Hill, when she was onstage as a guest for Ye.

In 2019, Pras was arrested and charged with funneling money from fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low, who is purported to be the mastermind of a billion-dollar 1MDB embezzlement scheme, for a lobbying campaign aimed at persuading the Trump administration (during his first presidency) to drop its investigation into the financier. The rapper was also accused of secretly funneling Low’s money to President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign, and trying to influence an extradition case on behalf of China.

On Nov. 20, 2025, he was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after being found guilty on 10 counts, including witness tampering, conspiracy, and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government.

racist, protestor, GOP, Wesley Hunt, Texas

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 1, 2026

Wesley Hunt Quotes MLK Jr., Says ‘I Don’t Care How Many Black People Are Here’ Amid 4 Republicans Leaving Congress

While Hunt claimed the number of Black congressional Republicans shouldn’t be treated as the core measure of representation, recent numbers and events prove representation matters.

Texas Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt finally spoke out after reporters asked for his thoughts on all four Black GOP members of the House of Representatives leaving at the end of the current session in January 2027: “It’s not relevant. I’m not here because I’m Black.”

His response comes after the Supreme Court struck down Section 2 of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Louisiana v. Callais, allowing the state to restrict Black representation in congressional redistricting. When MeidasTouch’s Pablo Manríquez asked what he makes of all four leaders—Reps. John James (Mich.), Burgess Owens (Ut.), Byron Donalds (FL.), and himself — leaving soon, he said, “I don’t.” “I’m not here because I’m Black. I am here because I am a qualified representative for Congressional District 38,” Hunt said.

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2049904287786873102

He continued to frame his response around the ideology that the outcomes of electoral races should reflect voter preference rather than race and pushed the premise that representation should be measured by identity. “The American people choose who they want to choose. I don’t want to get into this game of RACE BAIT all day, every day,” Hunt, who lost his senatorial bid earlier this year, said.

The Texas congressman continued to quote the late civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., claiming the number of Black congressional Republicans shouldn’t be treated as the core measure of representation, and boasted about serving a majority-white district. “If there’s four? If there’s 10? If there’s none,” the avid Trump supporter continued.

“I represent a White majority district that President Trump would have won by over 20 points, and I won by over 25 points. I’m being judged not by the color of my skin, but the content of my character.”

However, recent numbers and events prove representation matters. According to the Texas Tribune, Hunt, 44, gave up his congressional seat to run for the Senate, but failed to make the run-off. He finished in a distant third place — only receiving 13.5% of the vote — behind his white rivals, Attorney General Ken Paxton, 63, and Sen. John Cornyn, 74.

Hunt is part of a squad he referred to as “Democrats’ worst nightmare in one room,” but that squad is seemingly being dismantled, with the exception of Sen. Tim Scott, who holds the crown as the sole Black serving Republican. While Donalds seems to hold a lead in his race for Florida governor, James was recently booed by members of his own party during a Republican event in Michigan.

renovation,, Motown Museum, Hitsville, Detroit

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 1, 2026

A Motown Spectacular! The New School Studio Orchestra Hosts Free Tribute Concert For Legendary Label

The event takes place May 1 at the school's John L. Tishman Auditorium in New York City

The New School Studio Orchestra (NSSO) and the Motor City Groove Ensemble are presenting “A Motown Spectacular!” featuring music by several legends from the historic record label.

The event takes place May 1 at the school’s John L. Tishman Auditorium in New York City, where Keller Coker will conduct the musical special with students from the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes School of Music. Presented by the College of Performing Arts at The New School, the event is free for registrants on the school’s website. For those who are not in the city or can’t attend in person, a livestream will be available online for free. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m.

The Motor City Ensemble will recreate the sounds of the Motown (short for Motor Town, which, at the time, was home to American automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) era, which exploded during the 1960s and early 1970s, from Detroit, where the label’s founder, Berry Gordy, brought the Motown sound to life, starting an important era in Black music.

The musicians will be playing music from the Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes, and more.

The record label celebrated its 67th anniversary last month. Gordy started Motown on April 14, 1959, at the Hitsville USA recording studio, where the artists recorded. At the label’s peak, they had a hit ratio of almost 75%, when most labels were around 10%. By the end of the 1960s, Motown was the largest Black-owned enterprise in the United States, grossing $20 million annually by 1966 (equivalent to over $190 million today).

The label was also home to Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Lionel Richie, The Commodores, Rick James, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Kem, Vince Staples, and many more. Motown was also home to successful songwriters who shaped the label’s sound, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ashford and Simpson, and Norman Whitfield, to name a few.

Philly Twins Named Valedictorian And Salutatorian At Nation’s Oldest HBCU

by Kandiss Edwards

May 1, 2026

Philly Twins Named Valedictorian And Salutatorian At Nation’s Oldest HBCU

The Philadelphia natives said the news came as a "surreal" shock.

Cheyney University, the nation’s oldest historically Black college, has announced that twin sisters Tia and Jasmin Criss will graduate at the top of their class as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

The Philadelphia natives, who built their academic foundation at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, said the news came as a “surreal” shock. Tia and Jasmin say their primary focus throughout their four-year tenure was consistency and mutual support rather than competitive rankings.

“It’s sort of surreal,” Tia Criss told CBS News Philadelphia. “We weren’t trying to achieve valedictorian or salutatorian — it just happened that way.”

Born just three minutes apart, the sisters credit their parents for instilling the discipline that fueled their success in the classroom and on the tennis court. While they shared an identical drive for excellence, the twins are carving out distinct career paths as they prepare for the university’s May 9 commencement.

Tia, the valedictorian, intends to leverage her analytical skills in the insurance industry, while Jasmin, the salutatorian, plans to pursue a creative future in marketing or fashion. Both sisters will remain together this fall as they begin a Master of Business Administration program at West Chester University.

Tia and Jasmin Criss, seniors at Cheyney University, the oldest historically Black university in the country, are less than two weeks away from graduating as valedictorian and salutatorian.

Just three minutes older than Jasmine, Tia said the honors of being named class… pic.twitter.com/tel1K3nqqz
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) April 29, 2026

The milestone is marked by profound emotion for the family following the passing of their father, Lynn Criss III, in March. University leadership described the sisters’ journey as a personification of the HBCU experience, emphasizing that their achievement is a byproduct of dedication and community belief. Associate Dean of Students Dr. Lakiyah Chambers noted that the Criss twins’ dedication sets a high standard for future scholars at the historic institution.

“This is the product of working hard — dedication,” Associate Dean of Students Dr. Lakiyah Chambers told CBS News. “You see that in the Criss twins. It is an amazing story.”

JPMorgan Chase Executive Accused Of Sexual Assault Of Her Male Employee

by Kandiss Edwards

May 1, 2026

JPMorgan Chase Executive Accused Of Sexual Assault Of Her Male Employee

Hajdini allegedly referred to the plaintiff using slurs such as "my little brown boy" and "Arab boy toy."

A high-ranking executive at JPMorgan Chase is accused of a sustained pattern of sexual assault, drugging, and racial harassment against a junior male subordinate.

The complaint, filed in New York County Supreme Court, names Lorna Hajdini as the primary defendant. Hajdini serves as an executive director in the bank’s prestigious Leveraged Finance division. The plaintiff, identified in court documents as “John Doe,” is a junior banker of Asian/Indian descent. He alleges that Hajdini utilized her senior authority to coerce him into “non-consensual and humiliating” sexual acts in 2024.

According to the Economic Times, the misconduct began shortly after the plaintiff joined Hajdini’s team in 2024. The lawsuit details a series of disturbing incidents in which Hajdini allegedly threatened to “ruin” the married junior staffer’s career if he did not comply with her sexual demands.

The 37-year-old senior executive reportedly told the victim, “I f***ing own you,” and explicitly warned him that his year-end promotion and bonuses were dependent on his sexual cooperation. The plaintiff alleges that Hajdini forcibly engaged in sexual acts against his will. She, at one point, mocked him as he cried. Additionally, the lawsuit claims Hajdini admitted to drugging the victim with the date rape drug Rohypnol (roofies) and Viagra.

The filing details other alleged instances of racially charged insults. Hajdini allegedly referred to the plaintiff using slurs such as “my little brown boy” and “Arab boy toy.” The racial language was also used to question whether the bank’s management would want a “brown boy” leading origination.

In 2025, JPMorgan Chase vehemently denied the claims, the Economic Times reported. The company asserts that an internal review found no evidence to substantiate the allegations. A spokesperson for the bank stated that “numerous employees cooperated with the investigation.” but claimed the plaintiff himself refused to participate or provide central facts to support his case.

The bank insists it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for harassment. As of April 30, Hajdini remains employed by the firm according to reports. Following the public emergence of the lawsuit, Hajdini de-activated her professional social media profiles, including LinkedIn.

The plaintiff’s attorney, Daniel J. Kaiser, stated that his client has been “devastated personally and professionally” and is currently being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for emotional suffering, lost wages, and damage to his reputation.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 1, 2026

Salty Legislators Threaten SC State Funding After Lt. Gov. Pulled As Commencement Speaker

The university’s decision to disinvite the Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette has drawn a sharp and severe response from members of the South Carolina House of Representatives.

South Carolina State University (SC State) received threats against its funding after rescinding invitation to Lt. Governor Pamela Evette to serve as the keynote speaker for its upcoming commencement.

The university’s decision to disinvite Evette has drawn a quick and direct response from members of the South Carolina House of Representatives. In a formal letter addressed to Chairman Bannister, a group of legislators expressed their “deep concern” over the university’s move. Legislators characterized it as a capitulation to political pressure.

Members of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus denounced SC State President Alexander Conyers’s decision. The nine signatories hint that the university’s choice to disinvite Evette makes the intuition a “center of indoctrination where conservative views are not welcome.” Most significantly, the undersigned members have officially requested that all state funding for South Carolina State University be removed from the state budget. The legislators stated that if a sitting Lt. Governor is unwelcome and her safety cannot be guaranteed on a state-funded campus, it is “time to defund and reevaluate” the institution’s support.

“We are hereby requesting that no funding for South Carolina State University be included in the second version of the budget. There is no reason why state tax dollars should continue to fund a state institution where not all South Carolinians are welcome. If the Lt. Governor of South Carolina is unwelcome due to different political ideologies and an inability to keep her safe, it is time to defund and reevaluate,” the statement read.

Looks like members of the @SCFreedomCaucus now formally calling on SCSU to be defunded in the budget, per a letter I was just sent.

They’d been expressing this on social media since yesterday, so somewhat expected. https://t.co/8R7tI2LP9Z pic.twitter.com/KZyouJOURv
— Nick Reynolds (@IAmNickReynolds) April 30, 2026

The university had initially selected Evette to address the class of 2026, but the announcement was met with widespread demonstrations on the campus. Student protesters cited Evette’s political stances, specifically her opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices as reasons why she was not an ideal candidate to speak to the students of the historically Black university (HBCU).

President Conyers emphasized that the primary factor in the decision was the inability to guarantee a safe and celebratory environment for the graduates. The university noted that while it values free speech, the potential for significant disruption during the ceremony led to the conclusion that a change in speakers was necessary.

by Kandiss Edwards

May 1, 2026

Original ‘ATLien’ Big Boi To Executive Produce 1996 Atlanta Olympics Documentary

We Ran The City also addresses the complexities associated with the Olympic games, including the displacement of local residents.

Atlanta native and Grammy-winning artist Antwan “Big Boi” Patton is set to executive produce a new documentary, titled Atlanta 1996: We Ran The City, which explores the cultural and social explosion of Atlanta surrounding the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.

The project, recently green-lit for production, aims to go beyond the athletic competitions to tell the story of how the 1996 Olympics served as a catalyst for Atlanta’s transformation into one of the cultural capitals of the world. Big Boi will serve as an executive producer for the film, which will guide viewers through the era when Southern hip-hop, entrepreneurship and Black political power intersected on a global stage, Deadline reported. While the world focused on Centennial Olympic Park, the local community was experiencing a musical revolution led by the Dungeon Family, LaFace Records, and the rise of the “Dirty South” sound.

We Ran The City also addresses the complexities associated with the Olympic games, including the displacement of local residents and the long-term economic impact on the city’s historic Black neighborhoods. Through interviews with community leaders, athletes, and music icons, the film examines the dual reality associated with hosting the full Olympic event.

Big Boi is bringing his ATL stamp to the big screen, officially joining the upcoming We Ran The City documentary as an executive producer. It doesn’t get more Atlanta than this. Having the Outkast legend involved adds a layer of authenticity to a story… https://t.co/9ps8to1Fmi
— Magic 95.5 (@Magiccolumbus95) April 30, 2026

The documentary synopsis details some of the key figures involved in the evolution of the city during that time.

“From the relentless drive of Roderick Anderson, known as “The Terminator,” to the undercover exploits of Glen Cummings, and the high-stakes political landscape navigated by Mayors Bill Campbell and Kaseem Reed, each story reveals a unique facet of Atlanta’s rise. The narrative is enriched by the insights of Dr. Maurice Hobson, who provides a historical and social context to the city’s evolution.”

A 2026 release of Atlanta 1996: We Ran The City would coincide with the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Games.